Even as a major wind farm project is under construction in northern Oklahoma by Southwestern Electric Power Co. of Shreveport, Louisiana, the utility is seeking regulatory approval for an expansion of other projects in Texas.
With customers in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, SWEPCO says it will be another year before its renewable energy project in Oklahoma becomes operational.
The 598-megawatt Wagon Wheel Wind facility spans Garfield, Kingfisher, Logan, Payne and Noble counties. The company says steady progress is being made and “officials estimated it to be operational in December 2025.”
SWEPCO announced the ongoing development of other new generation projects, pending regulatory approval. These initiatives are designed to enhance SWEPCO’s diverse energy portfolio by adding natural gas facilities alongside new wind and solar farms, addressing the growing capacity demands of our customers in a cost-effective manner.
The latest announcement includes future development of a 450-Megawatt (MW) natural gas plant to be located at a previously retired plant site in Hallsville, Texas. Natural gas is the leading fuel for electric generation nationwide, accounting for 48% of SWEPCO’s existing power generation portfolio. Its turbines offer a reliable and dispatchable energy source, capable of ramping up within minutes.
Due in large part to the evolving reserve requirements set by the Southwest Power Pool, SWEPCO anticipates an increasing capacity need. Integrating these generation plants is essential to meet customer needs both now and in the future.
New Proposed Natural Gas Projects:
- 450-MW Hallsville Natural Gas Plant: SWEPCO is initiating a transformative project at the site of the retired H.W. Pirkey Power Plant. This facility is expected to begin operations in 2027, pending regulatory approval from utility regulators in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas, as detailed in filings submitted on Dec. 17. The Hallsville Natural Gas Plant will feature two General Electric combustion gas turbine generators and will utilize existing water intake structures and site infrastructure to minimize project costs.
- 1,053-MW Welsh Natural Gas Conversion Project: On Dec. 17, SWEPCO also submitted filings for a fuel conversion project at the Welsh Power Plant, located northwest of Cason, Texas. Pending regulatory approval, this initiative will convert the existing coal-fired boilers of Units 1 and 3 to burn natural gas, with Unit 1 conversion anticipated in 2028 and Unit 3 in 2027.
Renewable Projects Under Construction
- 200-MW Diversion Wind Farm: Located in Baylor County, Texas and scheduled to begin operations in December 2024.
- 598-MW Wagon Wheel Wind Facility: This project, spanning Garfield, Kingfisher, Logan, Payne, and Noble counties in Oklahoma, is making steady progress, with officials estimating it to be operational in December 2025.
- 72.5-MW Rocking R Solar Facility: SWEPCO’s first utility scale solar energy resource is nearing completion in Caddo Parish, Louisiana. SWEPCO will not own this facility and will instead purchase the output of the facility via a purchase power agreement. The solar farm will generate enough energy to power approximately 12,000 homes each year.
“The future growth of new technologies and continued service to our customers are priorities that will require a diverse generation portfolio,” stated Brett Mattison, SWEPCO President and Chief Operating Officer. “As we enter this era of technological transformation, our customers need an energy system capable of delivering reliable, affordable, and environmentally sustainable power whenever and wherever it is needed. Each of these projects represents an important addition to our generation fleet in service to our customers.”
In addition to these projects, SWEPCO has selected a short-term capacity agreement with a natural gas facility in Texas as part of a competitive bid process. The agreement will help serve as a bridge to more permanent resource additions.
SWEPCO has more than half a million homes and businesses as customers its 3-state service area. It also has more than 25,000 distribution line miles.
